Let's Play Catch-up!

Hello, my name is Stacey and I am the worst blogger.  Ever.

So, since January, there has been a lot that has happened. I have actually been able to mark a few more things off my "30 Before 30" bucket list that has now turned into "30 While 30."

Here is a preview of my updated list:

1.  Buy a house
2. Train for Tough Mudder (Event is in May)
3. Take the Pensacola Historical Tour
4. Ft. Barancus
5. Ft. Pickens
6. Ft. McRee
7. Pensacola Lighthouse
8. Revisit the Seanger Theatre
9. Paddle Board
10. Pensacola Ice Flyers Game
11. Big Lagoon State Park
12. Observation Wheel at the beach
13. Blue Angel practice (Thanks to federal budget cuts, the Blues are grounded for now)
14.  See the sunset at Pensacola Beach (how ridiculous, right?  I usually leave before then or get there after dark)
15. Jones Swamp Trail
16. Fishing in the Gulf
17. Kayak at the beach
18. Visit the Zoo (they have redone it)
19. Visit the Battleship on Mobile Bay
20. Mardi Gras Ball
21. Bellingrath Gardens
22. 5 Rivers Sunset Tour
23. Ft. Morgan
24. Take the Mobile Bay Ferry to Dauphin Island
25. Dauphin Island
26. Rosey O'Grady's Dueling Pianos
27. Revisit the IMAX theater
28. Hot Air Ballon Festival in Foley (it's in the summer)
29. Beulahfest (I missed this due to moving into my house!)
30.  Pensacola Mardi Grad Parade (missed this, too, due to moving!)


Let's start with Number 1: Buy a house.  On February 20th, I officially became a home owner!  I found a house that I LOVE and enjoyed every minute of fixing it up.  Here are a few "before" and "during" pictures:

The living room after the carpet was ripped up and painted

The kitchen during the process of ripping out the cabinets

One guest bedroom getting its new floor!  This room was dark paneling with blood red carpet!

I love this picture!  This is what happens then you give my dad a problem.  He gives you a solution.  Does the new hardwood floor need some weight to help the glue stick?  Well, let's put down bags of corn seed!!

The whole process seemed to take forever, but it finally came together and I am still working on getting just the right things for just the right place!

Kitchen with new cabinets and countertops

My favorite thing in the house.  This mantel was made with cedar wood from a tree that my grandfather cut down on a farm we had in Alabama.  I am so happy with the way it turned out!  Beautiful and a small way to have him here with me.

Add caption

You will have to excuse the mess on the counters, but this was the only picture I had readily available with one of my housewarming presents...my monogram!  I love it!  A big thanks to my cousin, Ashley, and my parents for giving me a name that monograms beautifully and symmetrically!

On to Number 2: Train for a Tough Mudder.  

I did not train near like I should, however, I made it though all 11 miles and 20 obstacles (although I did skip about 4 comestibles).  I now have the coveted orange headband!  Obviously, the pictures where we are clean were taken before and the muddy ones, afterwards! 

Moving on...
Number 8: Revisit the Seanger

For my 30th birthday, me and a few close girlfriends went out to eat at Global Grill in Downtown Pensacola and then strolled across the street for a night of Russian composer music, highlighting the Piano/pianist.  The Symphony was indeed at the Seanger Theater and I was very happy with my birthday!

My delicious cake that lit up the entire room!  I didn't have any pictures on my computer so I am going to reference you over to my cousin Ashley's blog where she posted about it here.

  
Number 10: Ice Flyers Game
A few of us went to am Ice Flyers Game and had a great time!  I highly recommend going!

Next up: Number 20!  Mari Gras Ball!

The gowns were beautiful!  The ceremony was fun and the presentation of the Queen was gorgeous!!  I took Courtney with me and we had the best time dressing up and going out for the night.  It's always fun to get a chance to dress up!

You can kinda see the Queen here...

I wish my camera phone took better pictures, but this is very similar to what what really seen...a glowing vision of white!

In addition to my bucket list items, I traveled to Auburn for A-Day this year for one final rolling of our iconic Toomer's Corner Oak Trees.  I am so glad that I went and was able to take part in such a memorable event.

Now for a few random pics...

Please keep this great guy in your prayers as he serves his first tour in Afghanistan.  I am proud and honored to call him my "little" cousin!

Pictures for Mother's Day with my Sister-in-Law.  I'll have to post more of these later, they turned out great!

Piano lessons are going great!  I am so proud of my students!

I have two of my Thomasville collections framed with two more in  the process...they should be ready in a few weeks.

Now, since no longer live in Thomasville, GA, I will be renaming my blog at some point since I am no longer a "AU Girl in a UGA World!"


Bon Soir!

Observing the Sunset

This afternoon, I was able to mark two more items off my "30 Before 30" list.  After looking at my list again and realizing how quickly my birthday is approaching it was a relief to be able to mark off two today.  Number 12, 360 Observation Wheel at the beach and 14, Pensacola Beach sunset, are both complete.

A few weeks ago, I took advantage of a special the observation wheel was promoting about purchasing tickets between 4-6pm, but able to use them at any time during the month of January.  After driving out to the beach after work one afternoon and arriving at a nerving 5:45 pm, I realized that I had driven into a parking lot of a business that was closed.  Thanks to the technology of smartphones, I was able to quickly find their phone number and give them a call to see what was up.  After a persistent discussion (on my end) and pointing out that they were promoting a certain "time frame" and were they "not going to honor a promotion" that is clearly stated on Facebook and their website and closing with "I drove 40 minutes out of my way to take full advantage of this promotion" one of the workers meet me out in the parking lot with two comped tickets!  Sweet!  They were very nice about the whole ordeal and I do understand why they were closing early (it was SO foggy that day/afternoon/night), but it's the principle of honoring an advertisement.

Libbie and Abbie ventured out with me on this trip and we had a great time watching the sunset and enjoying the ride.  While I think we rode the wheel at the absolute best time of the day, my only complaint is that their gondola glass should be made of something that is easy to capture pictures through since they won't let you open a window!

 I also had another reason to go out to the quaintness of the beach today.  Today is a very special day to me; my Paw Paw's birthday.  I never knew him to go to the beach, so I don't really know why I chose to go there today, but there is something about a sunset over God's beautiful creation that makes you feel close to those that have gone before us.  It's almost symbolic in the way the Sun comes up for a day and sets a night, which could be related to our lives and how we live and thrive as much as we can and as much as God will allow us to "during the day" but in the end, we are called home to our Father and we take what light we put into the world out "sunset/night."  Some people put in sunny days, others produce rainy, stormy, foggy, etc. days, but all my days with Paw Paw were sunny.  What kind of day are you?

Not a day goes by, that I don't miss your face

Your sky blue eyes and your warm embrace.

Years have passed now, but I miss you still

With all your love, my heart would fill.

Now there's an emptiness, a void, a hole

But I know that you had a Godly soul.

So today, I am sure, birthday blessings were poured

At the best party ever, with Our God, Our Lord.

With your Heavenly Father, you turned the big 8-1

And joyously heard "Happy Birthday, Son."

Wear your crown proudly, so starry, so bright

And know you are forever in my memory's sight.

  

Dueling

I have completed my first item.  I can successfully mark off #26-Dueling Pianos.

In Downtown Pensacola, Rosie O'Grady's has dueling pianos that are an absolute JOY to hear!  Libbie went with me and we had a great time and I plan on going back!  Hearing them really makes me want to take more piano lessons.

The First Step...

In order to document some places that will not be easily identifiable, such as the forts, I crafted up a chalkboard.

I found this mirror at my grandmothers.  As soon as I saw it, I knew it would work perfectly for this mission!

Before

After

I hope that it dries well and that one coat is enough.  Stay tuned as I start my journey!!

Happy New Year!!

This year is going to be a great one!  I just know it!  Within this year will be my 30th birthday.  I cannot believe that I will be 30!  It doesn't seem possible.  After thinking about this gloomy 30th birthday, I decided to make the most of it.  I have a few months before it arrives, so I made a list of 30 things that I should do before my big day.  I decided to stay local and see how people see this beautiful area through tourist eyes.  I am probably the worst native because there are many things and places that I have never done.  However, there are a few on the list that are easily obtainable and some are things that I am hoping to do before then, but I may have to extend the list a few months or so...just depends on how things go!

Here it my "30 Before 30" list:

1.  Buy a house
2. Train for Tough Mudder (Event is in May)
3. Take the Pensacola Historical Tour
4. Ft. Barancus
5. Ft. Pickens
6. Ft. McRee
7. Pensacola Lighthouse
8. Revisit the Seanger Theatre
9. Paddle Board
10. Pensacola Ice Flyers Game
11. Big Lagoon State Park
12. Observation Wheel at the beach
13. Blue Angel practice
14.  See the sunset at Pensacola Beach (how ridiculous, right?  I usually leave before then or get there after dark)
15. Jones Swamp Trail
16. Fishing in the Gulf
17. Kayak at the beach
18. Visit the Zoo (they have redone it)
19. Visit the Battleship on Mobile Bay
20. Mardi Gras Ball
21. Bellingrath Gardens
22. 5 Rivers Sunset Tour
23. Ft. Morgan
24. Take the Mobile Bay Ferry to Dauphin Island
25. Dauphin Island
26. Rosey O'Grady's Dueling Pianos
27. Revisit the IMAX theater
28. Hot Air Ballon Festival in Foley (it's in the summer)
29. Beulahfest
30.  Pensacola Mardi Grad Parade

It's not major events, but all events or destinations that I should have already been to.  I wish I would have started this earlier, I probably could have had a greater list if I had a year!  Ashley, don't be alarmed at the historical places!

I will keep you updated on how this goes!